are there any rules for fresh water dipping of corals

[edshern]

hi all, i had a leather that was looking very unhealthy for quite a while. after a 3 minute dip in ro water, he's (she's?) looking much better.
while most residents in my 92 look great there are 2 that look sad
(a star polyp and a brain) since the dip worked so well on the leather i was wondering whether i should try dipping these guys, and for how long in the dip. which corals should or should not be dipped. I was told the dip kills bacteria. thanks all

 

[JerseyReef]

Well I can tell that fresh water dips for SPS are a big NO, NO!! You will kill the coral.

For the most part, fresh water dips on any coral is not a healthy idea. Maybe you could explain the problem in your tank a little better?

 

[Anonymous]

Rule 1: Don't do that!

Some people advocate an iodine dip, where it is added to salt water, but I wouldn't do that either.

Fish can sometimes handle a freshwater dip because they osmo-regulate -- pump salt in and out of cells. Invertibrates osmo-conform. You put them in fresh water and their cells pop. That is the basis for freshwater dips killing parasites on fish. Unfortunately (for you) corals have much more in common physiologically with parasites than they do fish. So please don't do this.

There are probably some environmental causes -- water quality, lighting, etc, that can be corrected.

 

[Mouse]

I can assure you its the fish you dip in FW, the corals would just die instantly and loose all of their skin. If you want to dip stuff and would like pre-measured additive levels, with instructions to match, i would go for Kents new coral dip. No guess work.

 

[wade1]

Unless you pH and temp balance to match the exact conditions from which any animals comes, don't use freshwater. Even with fish, you severely stress their bodies. Some are able to adapt, but no reef creatures can. Its only a last case scenario where you should use it at all.

But, again you MUSt match the pH and temp of the water. And I suggest going with low salinity, not lack of salt. ~10-15ppt is enough to scare off most critters you don't want (ectoparasites).

 

[Scott Clendenin]

I've done a freshwater dip on my brain coral (platygyria). I'm not going to recommend dipping for fear of repercussion it may have on your coral.

I can say, however it seemed to aid my bleaching coral immediately. Yes, it looked shocked for a half hour or so, but necrosis came to a screeching halt.

If anyone cares to know, I did adjust the freshwaters ph to match that of my tank and the dip lasted about 5 sec.

I would actually recommend this as a last resort. If all tank parameters are adjusted correctly and your specimen is still in decline I see no reason to stand by with your hands in your pockets.